Ling House.

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey seven bay late 17th century farmhouse with pronounced quoin stones at central entrance door. Attached two storey barn, with associated farmyard barns and original boundary walls. It is likely that the early house was single storey.

The main facade faces north towards Lower Alla. The cut stone entrance surround, now painted, is boldly chamfered, terminating in a cornice which runs along the top of the door. A semi-circular fanlight sits on top aligning with the inner sides of the pilasters. An architrave frames the fan light with a keystone in the centre. The windows are unequally spaced, but align, those on the ground floor are horned sliding sashes with four panes. At first floor they are smaller and are horned sashes with two panes. The building is finished in unpainted harling It has a slate roof and three chimneys.

To the east a two storey barn abuts the building,. It is of lower height, has white wash on stone and a slate roof. Perpendicular and running to the south is a ‘street’ of similar single storey barns now derelict. A storey and a half coach house projects in front of the building from this group. A more recent farmyard of decaying block buildings sits behind.

The gable to the west is blank with traces of a former single storey barn. The back elevation to the south is seven bayed matching the front with a pitched single storey return in the centre.

In front of the building are low rendered walls enclosing the garden, the old main road, and a stone plinth for milk cans.

Historical information

Built as the home of Colonel Adam Murray, hero of the Siege of Derry, who rode from this house to take part in its defence. He is buried in Old Glendermott Graveyard in Clondermot Ward. The building is on the Skinners proportion and dates from the late 17th century. It is likely that the early house was single storey. The lugged architraves are not as old as the house and are probably mid 18th century. The door is unusual and elaborate, it may have been an addition to the house after construction possibly reflecting the enhanced position of its occupant after the siege.

In this century it was the farm of the Hopkins family. They extended and renovated the building in the 1920s. It was purchased by the present owners during the early 1980s.

Reference:

Primary Sources:
OS Map 1st Edition 1831 Co Londonderry 22
OS Map 1948 Revision Co Londonderry 22

Secondary Sources:
The Aprentice Boys of Derry (verbal information)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

D. Plan Form
E. Spatial Organisation
H+. Alterations enhancing the building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Extended 17th century farmhouse, which displays many vernacular influences in its organisation (circulation along the facade, kitchen on entering, function more important than symmetry). Yet, it also displays some highly architectural details - the elaborate entrance and the lugged architraves (possibly later) in particular. Its association with Colonel Murray is important and makes it a building worth restoring